Fact Sheet: Australian Finches

NameLicence Req?Mutations/Colours
Beautiful FiretailYes
Black-throatedYes
Blue-facedNoLutino
Chestnut-breastedNo
CrimsonYes
Diamond FiretailYesFawn
Double-barredNoFawn
GouldianNoWhite-breasted, Yellow, Blue, Dilute
Long-tailedNoWhite, Fawn
Masked Yes
Painted FiretailNoYellow
PictorellaYes
Plum-headedNoFawn
Red-browedYesYellow
Red-eared FiretailYes
StarNoYellow-faced, fawn
Yellow-rumpedYes
ZebraNoFawn, Pied, White, Charcoal, etc.

* Other Mutations/Colours may become available at times.

FEEDING

DRY SEED MIXTURE: comprising millets and plain canary seed.

FRESH WATER: for drinking and bathing

REGULAR GREENS: such as milk thistle, endive, dandelion, seeding grasses, etc.

LIVE FOODS: mealworms, maggots, white ants, etc.

SOAKED/SPROUTED SEEDS, CUTTLEFISH, SHELLGRIT, CHARCOAL.

HOUSING

AVIARIES*: minimum height 60cm; 3700 sq.cm. first bird, add 1800sq.cm. per extra bird

CAGES*: minimum height 34cm; 1000 sq.cm. first bird, add 500 sq.cm. per extra bird

PLANTS: most individuals do not harm plants. Chestnut-breasted and yellow-rumpeds may cause damage whilst breeding. Beware of toxic plants

MIXING: except for the crimson finch, generally tolerant of other birds. Note: Diamond firetails and black-throateds may be best kept with larger birds. Crimson finches have been associated with aggression, attacking especially those with red feathering.

Some species may hybridise with other members of this group. Therefore, they should not be kept together. It is illegal to deliberately let this happen.

ROOSTING: some species build roosting nests to sleep in at night: black-throated, diamond firetail, double-barred, long-tailed, masked, red-browed and zebras.

*In Victoria, a Code of Practice for the housing of caged birds applies to the keeping of birds in captivity and requires you to provide adequate space, food, water, etc. for your birds. These codes are available from Agriculture Victoria. Measurements are based on the largest species of the group.

 

FACT SHEETS:
(NOTE: ALL LICENCING INFORMATION RELATES TO VICTORIA ONLY)